STEPHEN STEWART
A LARGE casino, bar, nightclub and restaurant complex could be built under one of Scotland's largest and most historic railway stations, it emerged yesterday.
Developers may convert the space below Glasgow Central station, which was used by a car and van rental firm and a car park company, into a huge entertainment venue.
More than 34 million people visit the station each year and it has won the Europa Nostra competition, a prestigious European heritage award, in recognition of the (pounds) 33m invested over the past decade to restore the Victorian station to its former glory.
Judges said the award, which will be presented this week, was for the ''research and remarkable conservation of an important nineteenth-century train station including important protection measures to the roof''.
But the new proposal aims to further improve the area around the station by encouraging development to spread from the city centre on to the waterfront of the River Clyde along the Broomielaw area.
CGM (Oswald) Ltd is the applicant behind the plans to regenerate the site, which has 4472 square metres of floor space, on the city's Oswald Street and Midland Street.
A report submitted to planners at Glasgow City Council said the development would ''complement city centre uses, introduce variety and activity into the area and facilitate links between the city centre and development on the riverfront at Broomielaw''.
The area around the station on Midland Street is already home to the Arches, an arts receiving and production house which is also one of Scotland's top venues for live concert events, late night clubs, exhibitions and arts events.
As well as providing entertainment, developers hope the site would benefit the economy and provide natural surveillance, which would make the area safer in the evenings.
Opened in 1879, the station was extended between 1901 and 1906 and is now a listed building. Rather than detracting from the area, a casino complex could help restore the architectural fortunes of the waterfront area, according to the report.
It said: ''The traffic associated with the proposed development will be much less than that generated by the current car and van hire business.
''The subject proposal is not listed but is within a conservation area and adjoins Central station, which is listed. It will provide an opportunity to develop a building of architectural merit and in keeping with the heritage in the central conservation area, rather than the existing car park.''
Richard Rae, of Chesterton International, the agents for the planning application, said the casino complex was one of a number of proposals. Other options include using the site for storage or retail space.
He said: ''This is part of an area where there is an ongoing, significant process of regeneration. The building has been vacant for approximately nine years. We wish to give it a use that meets modern requirements.''
Professor Ivan Turok, an expert in urban economic development at the University of Glasgow, welcomed the plans but had reservations about their regenerative effect.
He said: ''I am unsure about the arguments that it would encourage development, although I can see why developers may try to do this as it is not the most dynamic and salubrious area of the city.''
The first phase of Glasgow Central station was designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, the leading Edinburgh architect.
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